Citrus pathology

An example of citrus canker

The citrus pathology unit helps to ensure the Australian citrus industry has access to high health status propagation material from the national citrus repository at EMAI and the Auscitrus propagation scheme. The unit has capability in research and diagnostics for a range of endemic and exotic citrus pathogens.

Centre for Recycled Organics in Agriculture

The Centre for Recycled Organics in Agriculture (CROA) is a dedicated research, development and extension facility aimed at developing options for beneficially reusing products made from recycled organics and other recovered materials in agriculture. CROA provides technical support to waste and fertiliser regulations, with outcomes of:

• greater community confidence in the use of these products;
• better informed regulatory decisions based on independent scientific data; and
• protection of agricultural markets and agricultural product safety

Entomology - Insecticide Resistance Research

The Unit currently leads national research efforts into improved resistance management for a number of key agricultural pests. These include two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) in horticulture and cotton; cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) in cotton; western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and more recently onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) in horticulture.

Future Dairy

This is a national multidisciplinary project to evaluate technologies and farming systems aimed at improving productivity of Australian dairy farms in the future. It addresses the predicted challenges of increased cost and reduced availability of land, water and labour, while recognising the importance of lifestyle related issues. Future Dairy’s activities are based around three priority areas – forages, feeding and innovations.

Immunology Molecular Diagnostic & Research Unit

The Unit's primary role is the acquisition and development of new research technologies and their application to solve prioritized agendas that have been identified by production and manufacturing industries as bottlenecks to increased efficiency, productivity and profitability. An integral component of this vision is the capacity to use our biotechnological expertise to provide a public and social good, in advancing animal, human and environmental health issues.

Microbiology Research

The Microbiology Research Unit provides specialist research expertise to investigate diseases caused by microbial pathogens by:

• Developing new assays with the aim of improving diagnostic testing.
• Investigating field studies in animal diseases utilising both the newly developed and existing laboratory techniques.
• Providing pig housing facilities, controlled environment facility and specialist computerised tomography (CT) equipment for investigating production limiting factors and diseases of pigs and other animal species.

Molecular Biology - Crops

The Molecular Biology - Crops Laboratory is committed to excellence in biotechnology research to contribute to crop improvement in agriculture. Current research areas includes molecular marker development for application in marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding, development of molecular diagnostics of plant pathogens for their containment and effective disease control, and understanding the molecular basis of herbicide resistance with implications for weed management.

Molecular Biology – Horticulture

Citrus plants at EMAI enable testing of pests and pathogens

The unit designs and implements molecular techniques to detect and type pests and pathogens of horticultural plants, to characterise plant germplasm and to study plant/pathogen interactions in horticultural production systems. A range of molecular research and diagnostic projects underpin the market access, biosecurity and sustainability of the horticultural industries.

Molecular Pathogenesis & Epidemiology Research

The Unit undertakes research that encompasses the molecular epidemiology and characterisation of infectious agents with a focus on zoonotic pathogens that pose a threat to food safety and public health. This research includes genetic characterisation of mobile, clustered antibiotic resistance genes within multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) enteric bacteria that circulate in foods derived from animal industries and other practices of relevance to public health.

Parasitology Research

The Parasitology Section test insecticide efficacy and resistance

The Parasitology Section has a permanent staff comprising of two Research Officers and a number of Technical Staff. Major activities include in-vitro and in-vivo insecticide efficacy and resistance testing against the Australian Sheep Blowfly, the Sheep Body Louse and the Small Hive Beetle. Research into the basis and impact of anthelmintic resistance in sheep nematodes and liver fluke and commercial parasitological research such as pen and field efficacy studies of new chemical treatments.

Plant Health Research

The unit is developing integrated management strategies for important diseases of a wide range of horticultural crops including greenhouse and field vegetables, Australian wildflowers and nursery plants. The unit is currently evaluating microbial biocontrols to complement other chemical and cultural management options.

RVL Research

RVL EMAI is primarily a project-based R&D Unit. A current R&D project focuses on the development of new or improved methods for animal disease diagnostics including development of diagnostic molecular technologies. Other projects are in the areas of histopathology, parasitology, serology, genetics and bacteriology. Some projects are collaborative in nature with project management conducted by a partner organisation and elements of the research activity conducted within the RVL.

Virology Research

The Virology Research Group undertakes research into a wide range of issues involving viral infections of production animals, birds, zoo and wildlife species, zoonoses and also crustacea and fish. Projects range from the development and evaluation of new test procedures, the investigation of new or emerging disease syndromes to the development and/or evaluation of vaccines or antiviral agents and treatments. Projects are conducted on behalf of  governments (state and federal), the Australian livestock industries or the private/commercial sector on a contract basis.

Supervision of post-graduate students

The total number of students being supervised by EMAI staff is 17. Twelve are PhD students.